Monday, November 20, 2017

Fans of Superman and followers of Jesus will delight in DC’s
Justice League. Although the movie
suffers from a bland villain and sub-par CGI (not the least of which covers Henry
Cavill’s mustache), Justice League
delivers something that was conspicuously absent from Man of Steel and Dawn of
Justice… hope. This hope resides in the film’s resurrected savior,
Superman. Director Joss Whedon establishes this theme right from the start. In
the opening sequence, set prior to Superman’s death in Dawn of Justice, Superman pauses after a daring rescue to chat with
a couple kids. “Is it true that your symbol stands for hope?” one child asks. “Yes,”
Superman replies. “But it looks like an S,” the youngster persists. “It’s meant
to,” Superman says, “It winds like a river. It comes and goes.”

In the wake of Superman’s death all hope seems gone. The
whole world appears darker and drearier without him. Early in the film, Martha
Kent tells Lois Lane, “There’s so much bitterness. I think it’s because he’s
gone.” Batman agrees, commenting to Wonder Woman, “Superman was a beacon to the
world.” Lois Lane sums up the situation in a voice-over at the end of the film.
“Our darkness was deep and seemed to swallow up all hope…”

I think the followers of Jesus could relate. In the wake of his
death on the cross, Jesus’ followers were devastated, depressed, and disillusioned.
All their hopes rested in a man they believed was God in human flesh. But then
He died. I think the two disciples walking on the road to Emmaus, spoke for
everyone when they said, “We had hoped that He was the one” (Luke 24:21 NIV). Had hoped? Anytime you start talking
about hope in the past tense, you know you’re in trouble. Thankfully, Jesus
conquered death and rose from the grave. So did Superman.

In the film, Superman dramatically returns from the dead and,
as alluded to by his symbol, brings hope back to his fellow heroes and the
world. Lois Lane speaks of Superman’s return in her closing comments, saying, “Hope
is real and you can see it. All you have to do is look up in sky.” The idea of
a resurrected savior who brings hope to the world ought to resonate with Bible
believing Christians. Prophesying the coming of Christ, the Bible says, “his
name will be the hope of all the world” (Matthew 12:21 NLT).

Jesus is our hope. The hope of all the world.

In an interview with USA Today, Batman actor Ben Affleck
makes a compelling comment. “Part of the appeal of this genre is wish
fulfillment: Wouldn’t it be nice if there was somebody who can save us from all
this, save us from ourselves, save us from the consequences of our actions and
save us from people who are evil?” Thanks to Jesus, we don’t have to wish. We
just have to hope.

Tuesday, October 17, 2017

As I sat watching Spider-man:
Homecoming with my kids, I truly appreciated being able to watch it on Vid-Angel.
This newest iteration of everyone’s favorite web-slinger contains more foul
language and suggestive themes than previous Spider-man movies, including a nonchalant
reference to pornography and a (almost) F-bomb from Aunt May, of all people!

Despite these failings (which disappear thanks to
Vid-Angel), Spider-man: Homecoming
does tell a heartwarming story with some significant spiritual value.

The movie picks up where Captain
America: Civil War ended. Peter feels special after receiving his
spider-suit from Tony Stark and being chosen to help the Avengers with their internal
conflict. In the wake of those prestigious events, however, Peter occupies
himself with lower-profile acts of heroism. He thwarts a thief trying to steal
a bicycle, bungles an attempt to stop an ATM burglary, and even gives
directions to an elderly woman lost in Queens. All the while, Peter anxiously awaits a call
from Tony to join the big leagues. “I feel like I could be doing more,” Peter
complains. “I’m just curious when my
next real mission is going to be.”

Surely, Peter Parker isn’t the only one to feel
insignificant, as if the little things we do simply don’t matter. As a pastor
for a small rural church, I can certainly relate. When I hear stories of rapidly-growing
congregations or visit some mega-church, it’s easy to feel like my “small”
ministry is insignificant and unsatisfying. Perhaps you feel the same way about
your ministry, career or lot in life. The truth is, though—the little things
really do matter. Jesus once said, “If you are faithful in little things, you
will be faithful in large ones” (Luke 6:10 NLT). He also compares the Kingdom
of Heaven to “a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth. Yet
when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such
big branches that the birds can perch in its shade” (Mark 4:31-32 NLT).

At the end of the movie, Peter gets his wish. Tony Stark
offers him a brand-new suit and a place on the Avengers’ roster. But by now
Peter has discovered that the little things he does make a big difference. He
tells Tony, “I’m good. I’d rather just stay on the ground for a little. Just a
friendly neighborhood Spider-man. Somebody’s got to look after the little guy,
right?”

Like Peter, I believe God wants each of us to “bloom where
we’re planted.” Even if your life doesn’t seem grand or glamorous, what you do
matters because it matters to God.

Tuesday, October 10, 2017

If you haven't already, please check out my book, Holy Heroes: The Gospel According to DC & Marvel! Each chapter explores a different superhero from either the DC or Marvel Universe and draws spiritual lessons from their stories! It's a fun and faith-building read that I'm sure you'll enjoy.

You can find Holy Heroes at your local Lifeway Christian Bookstore or at these and other online retailers:

Thursday, June 15, 2017

With Father’s Day right around the corner, I think now is a
good time to share some thoughts about the return of Marvel’s loveable losers
in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.

After banding together to save the galaxy from Ronan the Accuser’s
wrath, the Guardians of the Galaxy earned
their moniker. Now regarded as heroes, the Guardians must help their team
leader, Star Lord (a.k.a Peter Quill), unravel the mystery of Peter’s true
parentage.

SPOILER WARNING!

A Missouri native, Peter lost his mother to cancer and never
knew his father. He was raised by a space pirate named Yondu who claims to have
kept Peter around because, as Yondu puts it, "He was skinny, could fit
into places that we couldn't. Good for thieving."

In time, however, Peter meets his true father, an ancient celestial
being who calls himself Ego. A powerful living planet, Ego created a human body
for himself so that he could explore the universe and interact with biological
life. At first, Ego seems to be a caring and compassionate father, eager to
build a relationship with Peter. The two even enjoy a game of catch. However,
Peter soon discovers that his father is a ruthless entity with a god complex
who wishes to conquer the universe through an extinction-level plan known as
the Expansion. He tells Peter, “I need to fulfill life's one true purpose, to
grow and spread, covering all that exists until everything is... me!” Talk
about an ego.

After a pitched battle with Ego that rages all the way to
the core of the planet, Ego—the entire planet—explodes. Yondu shows up just in
time wearing a flight suit and rescues Peter from the destruction. He flies
Peter to safety then puts his space suit on Peter, sacrificing himself so that
Peter can live. Before freezing to death in the cold airless vacuum, Yondu
assures Peter, “He may have been your father, boy, but he wasn't your daddy.” Only
then does Peter realize, “Sometimes, the thing you've been looking for your
whole life is right there beside you all along.”

Sadly, many of us can relate to Peter’s experience. In
America, more than 20 million children live in a home without the physical
presence of a father. Millions more have
dads who are physically present, but emotionally absent. If it were classified as a disease,
fatherlessness would be an epidemic worthy of attention as a national
emergency. If you grew up without a father or much of one, then Father’s Day
may just be another fatherless day to you. But the Bible has some good news for
people like Peter.

God wants to be your Father!

Of all the images God uses to describe his
relationship with human beings, I think the most meaningful is Father. The New Testament refers to God
as Father more than two hundred
times. Jesus taught his followers to pray, saying, “Our Father who art in heaven…” (Luke 11:2). The Bible says, “See what
great love the Father has lavished on
us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John
3:1 NIV).

God not only longs to be your Father, but he wants to be your Daddy
too. Scripture says, “you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own
children. Now we call him, ‘Abba, Father.’ For his Spirit joins with our spirit
to affirm that we are God’s children” (Romans 8:15-16 NLT). The word Abba is the Hebrew equivalent of our
word Dad or Daddy.

Regardless of whether you had the world’s best dad or the
world’s worst dad, I want to encourage you to find a Father in God. The entire
Bible is the story of God the Father creating a family that will last for all
eternity. He created you to be a part of it!

Saturday, February 11, 2017

I’ve been absent from the blog-o-sphere for quite a while and
can’t wait to share what I’ve been working on in my absence. But for now, I
just had to write a quick reaction and reflection on the Lego Batman Movie, which I saw last night with my wife and SIX kids
(three of ours and three of their friends).

As anticipated, Lego
Batman, is clever, creative and crackles with childlike energy. The
creators packed in tons of bad guys, battles, explosions, bombs, weapons,
destruction, and general mayhem. I especially loved the endless stream of winks
and nods to previous incarnations of DC’s superheroes and literally pumped my
first when Robin whipped out a can of Bat-Shark Repellant! Surprisingly,
however, the movie also worked in some heart-tugging emotional moments amidst
the frenzied, fast-paced fun.

The story centers on Batman’s struggle to belong. Early in
the movie he declares, “Batman doesn't do ships. As in, relationships. There is no us... I don't need you. I don't need anyone. You mean nothing to me. No one does.” He repeatedly reminds his fellow crime-fighters, “Batman works alone.” But, inwardly, Batman wrestles with his loneliness. He eats dinner
alone in his enormous mansion. He spends time staring forlorn at pictures of
his parents, who he lost as a young boy. At one point, he even shows up unannounced
at a Justice League Anniversary party to which he wasn’t invited and feels the
sting of rejection. Alfred, Batman’s faithful butler, diagnoses Bruce’s
problem, saying, “Your greatest fear is being part of a family again.” The tragic
loss of his parents prevents Bruce from opening up and allowing others into his
life.

All of us need a place to belong. All of us need to be part
of something bigger than ourselves. All of us need to experience family and
fellowship. Going to church is not primarily about worship. You can worship God
at home from the comfort of your recliner, or behind the wheel of your car, or
while kneeling at your bedside. Church is primarily about family. The Bible
uses a lot of metaphors to describe the church, but the most persistent is
family. In the New Testament, believers call one another “brother” and
“sister.” Scripture describes our “adoption” as children of God (Romans
8:14-15). The church is called the “household” of God. The Bible says, “Now you
… are not foreigners or strangers any longer, but are citizens together with
God’s holy people. You belong to God’s family” (Ephesians 2:19, NCV).

Over the course of the movie, Batman gives
himself a pretty hard look, eventually realizing that he can't do everything by
himself and that working with a team and having a family is more fun and
fulfilling than going it alone. The same is true for you. Maybe there’s a pew
in your home church worn in the shape of your bottom. Maybe you’re as
comfortable in your church family as you are in your favorite pajamas. On the
other hand, maybe it’s been a while since you darkened a church doorstep. Maybe
you’ve never felt the blessing of belonging to something as big as the family
of God. Batman may be a Master-Builder with seriously ripped abs, but even he doesn’t do it alone. Likewise, God doesn’t just call
us to believe; He calls us to belong. The entire Bible is the story of God
building a family that will support, strengthen, and stir one another up to love
and good works for all eternity. And He created you to be a part of it!

Monday, November 14, 2016

This week I returned to Marvel Theater to re-watch Marvel’s
latest blockbuster, Doctor Strange,
this time with my son. I’m still mentally sorting through all the spiritual
life-lessons packed into this film. Last week I wrote about Steven Strange’s
lack of faith. But another aspect of this movie stood out to me as well.

Before he started wearing a donning a supernatural cape, Dr.
Strange wears surgical scrubs. Blessed with a photographic memory and gifted
with a set of amazingly steady hands, Strange fixes all manner of brain and spine
ailments better than anyone else in the world. After an emergency procedure where
Strange removes a bullet from a man’s brain and simultaneously humiliates a
rival surgeon, Strange invites his one-time love interest Christine Palmer to
attend one of his upcoming speaking engagements. Christine dismisses the
notion, but Strange persists, "You used to love coming to those things. We had fun together." Christine replies, "No, you had fun. They weren't about us, they were about you." Strange
answers, "Not only about me." Christine caps the conversation, saying, “Steven, everything is about you.”

Toward the end of the movie, Steven still struggles with
this self-seeking mentality. His spiritual tutor, the Ancient One, tells
Strange, “Arrogance and fear still keep you from learning the simplest and most
significant lesson of all.” Steven asks, “Which is?” And the Ancient One
replies, “It's not about you.”

Pastor Rick Warren agrees. In the opening line of his
best-selling book, The Purpose-Driven
Life, Warren writes, “It’s not about you.” He continues, “The purpose of
your life is far greater than your own personal fulfillment, your peace of
mind, or even your happiness. It’s far greater than your family, your career,
or even your dreams and ambitions. If you want to know why you were placed on
this planet, you must begin with God. You were born by his purpose and for his
purpose.”

Many of us fall into the same trap as Steven Strange. We’re
me-focused. Self-centered. Self-absorbed. Self-serving. Self-involved. Me. Me. Me.
Too many of us feel as though “the world revolves around me.” Scripture warns
us, however, “Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall”
(Proverbs 16:16 NLT). Or, in the case of Strange, pride goes before a horrific car
crash in your Lamborghini.

The truth is—it’s not about you. It’s not about me. It’s all
about Jesus! God wants us to stop living self-centered, self-focused lives. He
wants us to stop making a big deal about ourselves and start making a big deal
about Jesus! Tapping the collective shoulder of humanity, God points to Christ
and proclaims, “Behold the center of it all.” Life makes so much more sense
when Jesus is at the center.

In our search for satisfaction and significance
in life, let’s heed the words of the Ancient One and learn the simplest most
significant lesson of all: It’s not about you!

Monday, November 7, 2016

My wife and I went on an honest-to-goodness
date this weekend to see Marvel’s newest movie, Doctor Strange, and it did not disappoint. In addition to being
visually stunning, the movie tells a compelling story about a scientist turned
sorcerer.

Just as in the comics, Dr. Steven Strange is
a renowned neurosurgeon, a man of science and medicine, until a terrible car
accident robs him of the use of his hands. When traditional medicine fails him,
he desperately searches for healing and hope from a mysterious group of monks
in Kathmandu, Nepal. After learning that their methods are more mystical than
medicinal, Strange asserts his unbelief. “I don’t believe in fairy tales,”
Strange bemoans. “There is no such thing as a spirit! We are made of matter and
nothing more! You're just another tiny, momentary speck in an indifferent
universe. ”

Strange changes his tone, however, when a
powerful sorcerer called the Ancient One forces him into the astral dimension —a
spiritual realm where the soul exists apart from the body. After seeing the
evidence for himself, Strange humbly drops to his knees and pleads, “Teach me.”

If anyone can relate to Doctor Strange’s “conversion”
it’s Thomas. History remembers him as “doubting Thomas.” When the rest of Jesus’s
followers claimed to have seen Jesus alive after his crucifixion, Thomas refused
to believe. “I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands—and
put my fingers into them—and place my hand into his side” (John 20:25 TLB).

Thomas changes his tone, however, when Jesus
appeared again eight days laterl. Turning to Thomas, Jesus invites, “Put your
finger into my hands. Put your hand into my side. Don’t be faithless any
longer. Believe!” (John 20:27 TLB). After seeing the evidence for himself,
Thomas humbly drops to his knees and confesses, “My Lord and my God!”

Many of us can relate to Thomas and Steven’s skepticism.
Materialists like Strange, believe there is nothing more to the universe than
matter—nothing supernatural, nothing spiritual, and certainly no God. They are
either unable or unwilling to believe in anything they cannot see. In his infinite
grace, Jesus continues to provide the evidence we need.

Christian apologists like Dr. William Lane
Craig, Dr. John Lennox and others have aptly demonstrated how cosmology,
physics, morality, and the resurrection of Christ, provide powerful
evidence for the existence of God and the deity of Jesus Christ. Countless
skeptics have become believers after seeing the evidence for themselves.

After offering Thomas
the evidence he so desperately needed, though, Jesus offers a bit of wisdom: “You
believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing
me.” (John 20:29 NLT). In other words, while there’s nothing wrong with being
skeptical or seeking evidence, we don’t always have to see to believe. People
often say, “seeing is believing.” But in God’s economy there is a peace and
blessedness that comes from having an open mind and a heart of faith. Jesus’s
words to Thomas may as well be his words to you and me: “Don’t be faithless any
longer. Believe!”